The significance of Data Management Plans (DMP) as a critical element of the research process for researchers in higher learning institutions (HLIs)

Quantitative data was gathered from 206 postgraduate students at the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, a public university in the United Republic of Tanzania, with a return rate of 104 (50%). The data collection involved structured questionnaires. Data Management Plans (DMPs) are essential for researchers in higher learning institutions (HLIs). While DMPs offer various benefits such as ensuring compliance with funder and institutional requirements, promoting data sharing and reuse, and addressing ethical considerations, HLIs encounter challenges in developing and utilising DMPs for research projects. DMPs assist researchers in planning the collection, storage, and management of data throughout their projects, specifying data formats, metadata standards, file naming conventions, and documentation practices. Moreover, DMPs foster collaboration among researchers across different disciplines by establishing common data management practices and standards, particularly beneficial in HLIs where interdisciplinary projects necessitate effective data sharing and integration. Proper organization and documentation of data are critical for maintaining data quality, reproducibility, and long-term usability. Researchers have access to DMP template tools online or as Word documents, with many favoring DMPonline templates due to their user-friendly nature and availability at no cost. This enables HLIs and researchers to adopt and customize these tools to align with their specific needs. In essence, DMPs play a vital role in guiding researchers through the entire data lifecycle, from collection to sharing and preservation. By developing and implementing robust DMPs, researchers in HLIs can improve the quality, integrity, and impact of their research outputs while meeting compliance requirements and ethical standards.

本研究从坦桑尼亚联合共和国公立高校纳尔逊·曼德拉非洲科学技术学院的206名研究生处收集量化数据，有效回收问卷104份，回收率为50%。数据采集采用结构化问卷形式。数据管理计划（Data Management Plans, DMPs）对高等教育机构（Higher Learning Institutions, HLIs）的研究人员而言至关重要。尽管DMP具备多项优势：可确保符合资助方与机构的相关要求、促进数据共享与复用、兼顾伦理考量，但高等教育机构在为研究项目制定和应用DMP时仍面临诸多挑战。DMP可帮助研究人员规划项目全周期的数据采集、存储与管理工作，明确数据格式、元数据标准、文件命名规范及文档管理流程。此外，DMP通过统一数据管理实践与标准，推动跨学科研究人员之间的协作，这一点在高等教育机构中尤为关键——跨学科研究项目往往需要高效的数据共享与整合。规范的数据整理与文档记录，对保障数据质量、可重复性及长期可用性至关重要。研究人员可通过线上渠道或Word文档获取DMP模板工具，其中多数研究者青睐DMPonline模板，因其操作简便且免费可用。这使得高等教育机构及研究人员能够采用并定制此类工具，以适配自身的个性化需求。本质而言，DMP在引导研究人员贯穿数据全生命周期（从采集、共享至保存）的工作中发挥着核心作用。高等教育机构的研究人员通过制定并实施完善的DMP，既可提升研究成果的质量、完整性与影响力，又能满足合规性要求与伦理准则。